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Attendance of 2,260 great job turning out, zips fans !!!

Their goalie actually played a great game, but one little mistake...

Akron clearly was the better team. The players battled for every loose ball. I thought that Tyler Morck had a very strong game. Farrell Ngongang really battled in the box and cleared a lot of open space for his teammates. 3 straight shutouts for the back 4 and Brett. The ZIPs should be very proud of the effort and the execution tonight.

Wake Forest (0-0) Week 1: vs Akron (0-0) Robert Morris (1-0) Week 0: Win 28-7 at Wagner (0-1) Week 1: vs West Virginia State (DII) (0-0) Minnesota (0-0) Week 1: vs Eastern Illinois (1-0) UNLV (0-1) Week 0: Loss 27-21 vs Memphis (1-0) Week 1: at Hawaii (0-1) Central Michigan (0-0) Week 1: at New Mexico (0-0) Eastern Michigan (1-0 Overall, 1-0 MAC) Week 0: Win 28-17 vs Sacremento State (0-1) Week 1: vs San Jose State (0-1) Miami (0-0) Week 1: at Pittsburgh (0-0) Kent State (0-0) Week 1: at South Carolina (0-0) Ohio (0-0) Week 1: at Nebraska (0-0) Western Michigan (0-0) Week 1: at Michigan (0-0) UMASS (0-0) Week 1: at Rutgers (0-0) Buffalo (0-0) Week 1: vs Albany (1-0)

Those are the remarks of an exemplary head coach and leader. Factual. Accountable. Supportive. Forward thinking.

I've been impressed by Sears' physicality and ability to take on defenders for such a young player. My one critique of him is that he needs to get crosses in quicker. He's probably used to being able to get by defenders in high school and it's an adjustment he'll likely make over time.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DckZtJyjUi9/?img_index=3&igsi=MTdnbXhka3Z2dWFydQ== Future???? Heck of a throw on the fourth slide ....

AKR 1-0 WF FT Very evenly matched contest, though Zips had more of the ball. WF GK, who played a stellar match up to that point, got caught going for a ball outside his own box. Zips' Noa Testa, who had just entered the match for the first time, punished the GK for that one mistake. Superb cross field diagonal pass by Matt Paiva to assist Testa's goal.

Here's a slightly wider shot of the goal. https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcm6YJADFZ8/?igsi=MWptamE1eDBlcnM5Yg==

Great win by Akron! 3 game winning streak vs the ACC and all-time series lead vs Wake Forest, 5-4-1!

Zips have thoroughly outplayed Wake Forest in this game with nothing to show for it.

I will say Akron's effort in the past has been poor. Under Goodrich the past 2 years the effort has seemed much improved. It just takes time. Rome wasn't built in a day. Not that Akron is Rome.

Wake fans are saying similar things about their QB situation.

Wake surprised and won 9 games last season, though they may be hard-pressed to replicate that success in 2026. In the off-season, the staff targeted older transfers—with experience—in an attempt to create a more veteran team. QB: UNC/South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez will take the reins of the offense in 2026. He’s completed nearly 66% of his passes for 4,781 yards and 32 touchdowns versus 12 interceptions in his collegiate career. However, he can be feast or famine at times. For example, in Wake’s last scrimmage, he completed nine straight passes before proceeding to go 3 of 15 with two interceptions to close out the scrimmage. Edge: Wake RB: Junior Ty Clark is the expected starter after collecting 323 yards and 3 touchdowns last year—including a performance of 91 rushing and 73 receiving yards in the bowl game. Edge: Akron WR: Carlos Hernandez is on several All-ACC preseason teams as a receiver and/or kick returner. The senior had 40 receptions for 611 yards and 3 touchdowns last season—including a 93-yard touchdown reception. Rice transfer Drayden Dickmann and Louisville transfer Antonio Meeks should be the other starters. Edge: Akron TE: Senior Kamrean Johnson should step into the starter role after being the primary backup in 2025. Edge: Even OL: Only one starter returns from last year, and he has been working with the second unit—at a different position than he played last year. Wake will likely roll out three FCS transfers, a transfer from Oregon State, and a second-year player along the starting OL. Holding penalties have apparently been an issue with this new group during camp. Edge: Even DE: Redshirt seniors Langston Hardy and Gabe Kirschke provide a legitimate pass rush off the edge. The duo combined for 12 sacks in 2025, with Hardy also listed on the Chuck Bednarik Award Watchlist. Edge: Wake DT: Weber State transfer Matt Herron, former Idaho transfer Dallas Afalava, and redshirt senior Zach Lohavichan will receive the majority of snaps on the interior of the defensive line. Edge: Wake LB: Senior Aiden Hall returns as one starting linebacker and is on several All-ACC preseason teams after amassing 73 total tackles in 2025. He will be flanked by redshirt sophomore Frank Cusano, who collected 45 total tackles last season. Edge: Wake CB: FIU transfer and former CUSA Honorable Mention Duece Blades will start at one corner. Redshirt senior Ashaad Williams, who played in four games last year, is expected to start opposite Blades. Edge: Wake S: Redshirt junior Davaughn Patterson resumes his role as a starter, where he had 80 total tackles and 9 passes defended and has been named to several All-ACC preseason teams. Braylon Johnson is also back as a returning starter after collecting 38 total tackles last season. Redshirt sophomore Rushaun Tongue should fill in at the other safety spot. Edge: Wake ST: Connor Calvert returns after going 18 of 22 on field goals and 32 of 33 on extra points. Australian freshman Ethan Hyams will likely take over punting duties. Edge: Wake Prediction: I’m sticking with my original preseason prediction and going with a loss here. I didn’t feel great about our rebuilt OL versus Wake’s DL before, and now that issue will likely be compounded with a redshirt freshman at quarterback. Hopefully, Broughton can offset his inexperience with some natural playmaking ability. I am anxious to see how our DL fares against Wake’s OL. I think this is an area where we could hold our own. However, our linebacking corps could offset this line of thinking.

No Sh&t!!

Fa Fa late in the 1st half and starting the 2nd was a great sub. Fa Fa was a beast, and Remi came back at crunch time with rested legs. And, of course subbing Noa paid off quickly. Brilliant work by him from Paiva’s long ball to force the GK error and stay with it for the goal. What a goal!!! I love the depth of this team and look forward to seeing them come together like last night.

https://mozelles.com/ One of the best restaurants I the Southeast. Lunch and dinner. Even if you are staying uptown, you'll have to drive. It's close, but not a walk I would make this time of year. https://andrewsrestaurantsws.com/young-cardinal/ One of my all time favorite breakfast places. Get the sausage gravy as a side in place of potatoes and pour it over the biscuit they give you. Uptown. https://www.foothillsbrewing.com/welcome/?returnUrl=https://www.foothillsbrewing.com/ If you are staying at the Courtyard uptown, take 20 steps to the right and you'll be there. I'm not a craft beer person, but I do think this is one of the best in NC. https://www.smallbatchws.com/ I don't like bourbon, but the burgers here are great. It's by the big Marriott uptown. https://www.villagetavern.com/. Cool place at Reynolda Village. Not in the city. Close to campus. Thirsty Pallet is an uptown dive bar. I love the place. Walkable from anywhere uptown. Tailgating food: Mountain Fried Chicken. Close to the stadium. You can't go wrong with a fried chicken shop that has the tagline "It Ain't Greasy". If you get sucked into the whole Lexington BBQ thing, remember to get it sliced, not chopped. Someone mentioned they were staying at the Courtyard by the stadium. Pickings a slim, but Putters is a good choice. If you are parking at the basketball arena and not tailgating, but want some drinks, Putters is close. https://www.putterspatioandgrill.com/ If you want to see some shops in natural setting Reynolda Village is good but you have to drive to it. Trade Street has some shops you could look at. The Learfield Radio studio is on Trade Street and on Saturdays you can watch the guys do highlights. If you are a student and want to be around people your age, take an Uber to Burke Street Pub. That area is where the students go. Do us all a favor and clean yourself up when you go. Represent well. I've been at this place on a Friday night. The girls dress and look unlike what you see in Akron. They are rich kids who look rich and dress like rich kids. Don't be a slob.

A couple of thoughts on the game: - Sam Bunch is a great addition. I am concerned though his aggressive style will produce a good number of cards - London Sears always seems dangerous with the ball. Excellent recruit - Wake goalie was freaky athletic. Too bad one mistake cost him a superb game - Possession was impressive - Backline was stellar with three consecutive clean sheets - I want to see more Ignacio Alem, he was really coming on the end of last season - Great atmosphere on a beautiful night Go Zips!

The Wake Forest website has a very thorough write up on the game. https://godeacs.com/news/2026/8/28/mens-soccer-wake-forest-falls-to-no-10-akron-1-0 FROM COACH MUUSS "That was a tough result. I think the guys competed for 90 minutes. They fought. We showed characteristics that maybe we haven't shown in the past, which is grit and grind, and that's not being disrespectful to former teams. We were just at a different level tonight, the way they tracked back in transition and hunted the ball was so good. I'm so proud of them. Jonah had a great game tonight, and just one mistake cost us the match. Maybe there were things that we could have done prior to that through ball getting in. I'm gutted for the group because of the way we conceded. I'm not gutted for the group for the way they competed. If we continue to compete like that and we continue to grow and get better, this group can be special."

I am not on twitter....so I was not able to see the 2nd item in the twitter link above... here is a facebook shared link....where you can see the goal if you are on instagram....you can also see the goal on instagram https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1MAc4mWcHg/

If this team can find some consistent goals, they are going to be VERY good! Nice win tonight!

Reno Ferri III is now a senior at Hudson and scored four touchdowns against Jackson.

So glad we avoided another 0-0 tie

GOAL!!!!!!!! 7 MINUTES TO GO! Long ball played into the top right side. Goalie spilled it and Testa curled it in back post.

Nothing much to report. Dominant attack by Akron that simply hasn't found the back of the net. Hit a post on one attempt and the goalie made 2 nice saves on another attempt. 1 SOG all game for Wake. 10 minutes to play.

I wasn't all that surprised to see PA, MI, FL, CA, and TX rank among the top 10 states for Akron alumni. I was surprised to see the heavy concentration of alumni in the VA, Carolina, GA region. Not that I wouldn't have guessed 1 or 2 of those states to make the top 10, but I wouldn't have guessed all 4. Scheduling more games against programs like Georgia Tech, Virginia, NC State, etc. would seem to make a lot of sense if we want to keep alumni outside of Ohio more engaged.

We will be there along with our alumni son! First time getting to see the Zips since moving to Greensboro a few years ago.

Marty has been coming to the games with me since the nineties. He got season tickets a few years before the Info opened. There are three of us that grew up in Ellet and then went to UA and attended the games. This is so cool!